The Cascade Kingdom is the second kingdom visited in Super Mario Odyssey. It is the greater location of Fossil Falls, which is a prehistoric dinosaur-themed area. The main landmark of this kingdom is the waterfall flowing down from the skeleton of a Triceratops, while its background appears to be inspired from the real-life Iguazu Falls located between Argentina and Brazil. Mario first arrives in this kingdom via a spark pylon located on top of the Top-Hat Tower in the Cap Kingdom, which snaps upon his exit. When he arrives here, he is introduced to the game's main collectible, the Power Moons, as well as the Odyssey, a hat-shaped airship used to travel between the game's kingdoms. During his first visit here, Mario must defeat Madame Broode in order to collect a Multi Moon, which is used to power up the Odyssey and allow it to travel to the next kingdom - the Sand Kingdom.

The Cascade Kingdom is one of the few kingdoms in the game that does not have any known residents, even though dinosaurs, and in particular T-Rexes, are known to live there. It is located east of the Cap Kingdom and west of the Sand Kingdom.

To give the impression that there was going to be a magnificent adventure, Fossil Falls was designed with impressive elements such as a spreading blue sky, a huge waterfall, and a T-Rex.[1] The main difference between the concept art and the final design lies in the sleeping T-Rex wearing a red top hat.

The stone spire standing near the great falls has miraculously remained balanced upright in this position, presumably for eons.

Of particular interest are the cubes of unknown material embedded in the stone. There cubes are the reason for the common theory that the spire somehow fell from the sky. While this theory is difficult to prove, it is equally hard to doubt when looking at this miraculous stone structure.

No ordinary cliff face, this structure was carved out painstakingly over many long years by people unknown. The wall is composed mainly of fossils, and evidence suggests it has been broken many times, causing some to suggest that something is buried inside. Visitors are encouraged to explore the mysteries surrounding the Great Barrier, if they dare.

A cavernous area consisting of three partitioned rooms full of Chain Chomps among pools of Poisoned Water. The method to progress plays out similar to a billiards game, in that Mario must capture the nearest Chain Chomp and hit it against the other Chain Chomps so that the last one hits a hole in the back wall, with the last room earning him a Power Moon. A hidden, fourth room lies beyond the exit, which holds another Power Moon.

There are two paintings in this kingdom. At the right side of the bridge near the Odyssey, there is a small cave with some regional coins that can be accessed by swimming to it. Inside, there is a painting that leads to the Island in the Sky at Bowser's Kingdom that can be only entered after completing the main game.

There are a total of 40 Power Moons in the Cascade Kingdom. During the player's first visit to this kingdom, they can collect 17 of the Power Moons. After the player leaves this kingdom and comes back (at any point), 2 more Power Moons are available to collect. The player can also collect a Power Moon if they travel to this kingdom using a painting found in a future kingdom (either the Snow or Seaside Kingdom). One additional Power Moon can also be found when the player encounters the Tostarenan tourist in the kingdom. After the player defeats Bowser in the Moon Kingdom, 4 more Power Moons become available to collect. The Moon Rock will also be available to destroy, causing 15 additional Power Moons to be accessible.

In order to power up the Odyssey and progress to the next kingdom, the player must collect at least 5 Power Moons.

Thematically, the Cascade Kingdom may have potentially been influenced by the 1990 science fiction novel Jurassic Park. Similar to the Cascade Kingdom, the novel takes places on a lush, Latin American island inhabited by dinosaurs. The T-Rex's design is reminiscent of the Tyrannosaurus rex from the film adaptation of Jurassic Park, rather than to what the animal might have actually looked like.[4]